Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 379, which amends development fees. Council voted to reduce the cost of filing a subdivision or development appeal from $200 to $100, as was originally proposed in the fee changes on December 19, 2016. At a public hearing on January 9, some residents spoke in favour of maintaining a lower cost for appeals. A fee is collected for appeals to deter frivolous or nuisance appeal applications.
Council approved the return of the RCMP Musical Ride to Banff on September 2 & 3 to perform as part of their Canada 150 tour. The 32 riders in red serge will perform three shows at the high school field in celebration of the country’s 150th anniversary. A budget of $64,500 was approved. It will be funded from ticket sale revenues, with any shortfall coming from the budget stabilization reserve. The RCMP Musical Ride have been to Banff twice before, once in 2003 and once in 2010. Ticket information will be posted closer to the date on
Banff.ca.
Council received a briefing on how Banff’s cemetery fees compare with other communities. Banff has some of the lowest fees compared to Canmore, Cochrane, Olds, Red Deer and Calgary.
Council received a briefing on BanffLIFE’s 2016 programs, including the success of the Mountain Adventure Program, volunteer program, pasta nights, Banff Ambassador Program and more. BanffLIFE is a program for 18-30 year olds living and working in Banff National Park to encourage volunteerism, and improve access to social, educational, and affordability programs.
Council received a briefing on the successes of the Community Helpers Program in 2016. The program includes initiatives such as SafeTalk Suicide Alert Training, mental health First Aid, a two day program for that trains high school students to help their peers, and more. The Community Helpers Program strives to enhance the well-being of individuals and community members through community resource knowledge and support in order to provide a safety net for 15-30 year olds in the community.